Lubna Somjee: OCD is not just worrying

Condition can interfere with one's quality of life

11:31 PM,
Nov. 2, 2013

Written by

Lubna Somjee

Many people joke about having obsessive-compulsive disorder. They describe needing their house or belongings kept neat or double-checking locks. However, OCD goes beyond just the desire to having something neat and clean or checking something twice.

What exactly is OCD? OCD consists of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, images or impulses. No matter how hard a person tries, they cannot seem to rid themselves of the obsession. Common types of obsessions can include fear of contamination (i.e., germs, illnesses), safety (i.e., being ...